THE  A  B  C 


MDING  TO  HOUNDS 


JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


THE  "A  B  C" 

OF 

RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 


FOREWORD 

It  is  not  expected  that  the  following 
notes  will  be  of  value  to  experienced  riders, 
much  less  are  they  intended  to  represent 
the  lore  of  a  great  sport,  but  the  writer 
has  found  the  suggestions  they  embody 
useful  in  preparing  his  children  for  the 
hunting  field,  and  believes  that  their  more 
general  observance  would  go  far  to  dimin- 
ish accidents  and  promote  pleasure. 

C.  B.  M. 

Bernardsville 
Oct.  1,1916 


THE  "A  B  C" 

OF 

RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

The  first  requisites  of  a  satisfactory- 
hunter  are  ability  to  jump  safely  and  sub-  Choice  of 
jection  to  the  control  of  his  rider.  To  turn  a  Mount 
out  on  a  vicious  animal  or  one  that  may  at 
any  time  get  the  better  of  you  is  unsports- 
manlike, because  such  a  mount  is  a  source 
of  danger  not  only  to  yourself  but  to  the 
whole  field.  If  you  are  only  a  moderate 
rider  do  not  try  a  horse  that  is  "above 
you"  because  he  goes  well  with  experts. 
Above  all  things,  avoid  a  "lugger".  With 
such  an  animal,  not  only  is  needed  strength  Luggers 
wasted,  but  the  attention  of  both  horse 
and  rider  is  diverted  from  the  business  to 
which  they  should  be  attending.  More- 
over, a  horse  that  is  fighting  for  his  head 
when  approaching  a  fence  is  unable  prop- 
erly to  see  and  measure  the  obstacle,  and 
if  his  nose  is  in  air  when  taking  off,  he 
will  not  be  in  position  to  jump  safely. 

Good  hunters  are  of  many  shapes  and 
1 


Conforma- 
tion 


2  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

sizes,  but  the  characteristics  which  should 
be  looked  for  are  a  bony  structure  and 
arrangement  of  muscles  adapted  for  en- 
durance and  jumping.  More  specifically 
a  hunter  should  have  a  sloping  shoulder, 
high  withers,  a  lean  and  clean  neck  and 
a  head  properly  set  on.  He  should  be 
"light  in  front".  Round,  hard  feet  below 
short  cannons  are  a  great  advantage  and 
depth  of  girth  is  important,  as  indicating 
good  heart  room.  The  back  should  be  of 
a  type  to  keep  the  saddle  well  behind  the 
withers,  leaving  little  space  between  it  and 
the  rump. 
Importance  The  value  of  a  sloping  shoulder  is  two- 
??  ^^^P*°^  fold ;  it  enables  a  horse  to  raise  his  fore- 
legs safely  when  "taking  off"  and  absorbs 
the  shock  of  his  weight  on  landing.  A 
horse  is  propelled  solely  by  his  hindquar- 
ters, so  that  in  jumping  the  function  of 
his  hindlegs  is  to  drive  him  into  the  air, 
while  all  that  is  required  of  his  forelegs  is 
that  they  should  be  well  tucked  up  in  pass- 
ing the  obstacle,  and  straight  and  sound  to 
land  upon.     By  far  the  most  important 


Shoulders 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  3 

attribute  in  a  hunter,  other  things  being 
equal,  is  that  of  intelHgence,  for,  after  all, 
the  horse  does  most  of  the  work.  A  safe 
hunter  does  a  lot  of  thinking,  and  learns 
from  experience.  Many  a  rider  has  been 
saved  a  fall  by  his  mount's  refusal  to  try 
the  impossible,  or  quick  change  of  feet  to 
meet  some  unexpected  difficulty. 

Before  mounting,  examine  your  girths, 
which  in  the  case  of  a  side  saddle  should 
be  further  tightened  after  the  rider  is  Mounting 
seated.  Also  notice  carefully  your  bits, 
to  see  that  they  hang  sufficiently  low  in  the 
horse's  mouth  to  bear  against  the  bars  of 
his  jaw  and  not  against  his  cheeks.  Most 
horses  are  "over  bitted"  either  in  weight 
or  severity.  Look  especially  at  the  throat 
latch,  which  can  hardly  be  too  loose. 
If  tight,  it  will  not  only  distress  your 
horse,  but  in  extreme  cases,  cause  a  rush 
of  blood  to  his  head. 

Ride  to  meet  slowly  not  only  to  save 
yourself  and  your  horse,  but  not  to  excite  ^^  Meet 
the  latter.    Let  him  adjust  himself  to  his 
work   and   digest   his   oats.     Nothing  is 


4  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

worse  form  than  to  arrive  flustered  and 
out  of  breath  with  your  horse  in  a  lather. 
Pay  your  respects  to  the  master  and  keep 
your  horse  as  quiet  as  possible  until  the 
start.  If  the  weather  is  cold,  or  he  is  very 
excitable,  walk  him  about  slowly  at  a  dis- 
tance from  other  horses.  Many  good 
hunters  are  nervous  and  difficult  to  handle 
at  this  stage,  but  quiet  down  as  soon  as 
they  get  imder  way,  unless  in  the  mean- 
while they  have  been  allowed  to  get  into 
a  fight.  If  your  horse  is  inclined  to  kick, 
the  traditional  danger  sign  is  a  bit  of  red 
ribbon  braided  in  his  tail.  Do  not  indulge 
in  loud  talking  or  shouting,  which  has  the 
effect  of  exciting  other  riders'  horses. 

On  the  way  to  cover  ride  as  quietly  as 
you  can;  do  not  crowd  others,  or  follow 
too  closely  restless  or  kicking  horses.  Do 
On  the  Way  ''^^^  "show  off"  by  taking  unnecessary 
to  Cover  jvmips  or  gallops.  As  you  ride  along, 
notice  the  country  through  which  you 
pass;  learn  to  estimate  distances  and  to 
locate  landmarks,  such  as  bridges,  streams, 
taverns,  church  steeples,  etc.    Pay  partic- 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  5 

ular  attention  to  cross-roads,  and  note  the 
directions  on  road  signs.  Study  the  fen- 
cing on  both  sides  of  the  highway — its 
character  and  the  best  points  at  which  to 
negotiate  it,  if  necessary.  You  may  cross 
the  same  road  at  full  gallop  an  hour  later 
when  you  will  have  little  time  to  examine 
banks  and  ditches.  Do  not  crowd  the 
hounds  or  huntsmen,  nor  insist  on  follow- 
ing immediately  behind  them.  You  can 
easily  make  up  this  distance  when  hounds 
take  off. 

When  the  hounds  are  off,  devote  your 
whole  attention  to  the  business  in  hand.  Full  Cry 
and  use  your  brains.  At  all  times  look 
ahead  as  far  as  possible,  sizing  up  the 
country,  trying  to  foresee  the  direction 
the  fox  will  take,  and  endeavoring  to 
select  independently  of  others,  the  best 
and  easiest  line  to  follow.  When  the 
hounds  are  not  in  sight,  you  can  often  tell 
the  direction  they  have  taken  by  the  ac- 
tions of  sheep  or  cattle  at  pasture,  or  by 
that  of  crows  circling  in  the  air.  A  fox 
prefers  to  run  down  wind. 


6  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

Keep  out  of  the  ruck,  preferably  near 
the  front  but  sHghtly  to  one  side  or  the 
other  of  the  hounds.  The  advantage  of 
this  is  obvious ;  you  are  more  independent, 
you  can  see  better  what  is  ahead  of  you, 
and  if  the  ground  is  soft,  it  will  not  be 
roughened  by  horses  which  have  preceded 
you. 

On  entering  an  enclosed  field,  select  at 
once  the  point  at  which  you  wish  to  leave 
it,  and  approach  your  fence  at  right  angles 
from  as  long  a  distance  as  possible,  in- 
stead of  waiting  until  you  are  near  it  to 
straighten  out  your  horse.  This  enables 
your  mount  to  see  and  understand  in 
ample  time  what  is  expected  of  him,  and 
allows  other  riders  to  know  your  line  and 
not  interfere  with  it. 
Jumoinj^  Never,  under  any  circumstances,  take 

in  General  a  fence  except  at  right  angles.  The  rea- 
son for  this  is  that  if  you  go  at  it  straight 
and  vour  horse  hits,  he  has  a  chance  to 
recover  himself  on  landing,  or  at  the  worst, 
to  stumble  over  on  his  knees  and  neck, — 
whereas  if  he  strikes   it   sideways,   he   is 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  7 

thrown  on  his  flank  with  no  chance  to  save 
himself,  and  you  will  probably  be  crushed 
under  him. 

In  selecting  your  jump,  pay  more  at- 
tention to  the  "take  off"  and  "landing" 
than  to  the  height  of  the  obstacle.  It  is 
easier  for  a  horse  to  jump  five  feet  from 
a  good  "take  off"  than  four  feet  from  a 
bad  one.  Light,  Dust 

The  question  of  light  is  an  important  and  Wind 
one  in  jumping.  Horses  have  not  par- 
ticularly good  eyesight  and  jump  more 
safely  with  the  light  shining  from  behind. 
To  jump  directly  against  the  rays  of  a 
setting  or  rising  sun  is  to  take  a  chance. 
Strong  shadows  on  the  ground  are  often 
mistaken  for  holes  by  horses  and  cause 
them  to  shy. 

To  jump  in  a  cloud  of  dust  is  also  dan- 
gerous. High  grass,  or  other  vegetation, 
growing  against  a  fence  tends  to  make 
a  horse  underrate  its  height,  and  also 
makes  a  "blind"  "take  off". 

On  very  windy  days  extra  care  is  needed 
in  the  field.    Horses  are  peculiarly  sensi- 


8  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

tive  to  wind,  which  irritates  their  nerves, 
stiffens  their  muscles  and  makes  their  eyes 
water,  sometimes  to  the  extent  of  inter- 
fering with  their  sight. 

As  you  approach  your  fence,  rein  in  suf- 
Jump  ficiently  for  your  mount  to  get  his  hind- 

quarters well  under  him,  so  as  to  obtain 
the  necessary  purchase  for  the  jump,  but 
as  soon  as  he  "takes  off"  leave  his  mouth 
entirely  alone  and  do  not  tighten  up  your 
reins  until  he  has  recovered  his  stride  after 
landing.  Many  books  on  riding  advise 
you  to  lean  far  back  on  approaching  a 
jump,  but  my  experience  is  that  it  is  better 
to  lean  slightly  forward  and  "throw  your 
heart  over"  ahead  of  you,  because  a  horse 
is  quick  to  sense  any  indecision  in  the  rider, 
and  may  mistake  your  leaning  back  for 
flinching.  Avoid  the  practice  of  many 
riders  who  give  their  horse  a  signal  by 
sound  of  whip,  in  jumping.  A  good 
hunter  can  tell  when  it  is  best  for  him  to 
"take  off"  much  better  than  you  can.  If 
he  knows  his  business,  your  signal  will 
merely  distract  his  attention;  while  if  he 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  9 

learns  to  rely  on  it,  you  will  undoubtedly 
make  mistakes  at  times  in  giving  it.  In 
general,  the  higher  the  jump,  the  slower 
the  approach  should  be  to  within  a  few 
strides  of  it.  From  that  point  the  horse 
should  be  allowed  to  gather  momentum. 
A  hand  canter  is  the  safest  speed  at  which 
to  approach. 

Never  select  a  panel  that  is  leaning  p  .  , 
towards  you,  because  if  your  horse  strikes  Rail 
it  it  will  rise  and  stiffen  as  he  passes 
over,  whereas  if  the  panel  is  perpen- 
dicular, or  leaning  from  you,  any  knock 
will  tend  to  lower  and  weaken  it.  Avoid, 
if  possible,  a  panel  close  to  trees  on  the 
further  side,  for  should  your  horse  carry 
off  the  top  bar,  it  may  catch  against  the 
trees  and  trip  him  after  he  has  passed  the 
fence.  One  of  the  worst  falls  I  ever  saw 
happened  in  this  way  to  an  experienced 
rider.  A  panel  with  a  fairly  heavy  and 
straight  top  bar  is  to  be  preferred.  Your 
mount  can  see  it  better  than  a  thin  one 
and  is  less  inclined  to  take  a  chance  at 
breaking    it.      A    rail    that    curves    up- 


10  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

wards  is  naturally  more  dangerous  than  a 
straight  one  or  one  curving  downward,  as 
it  heightens  the  jump  by  just  so  much 
and  is  apt  to  deceive  your  horse  when 
gauging  his  jump  by  the  average  top  line 
of  the  fence. 

Some  of  the  worst  accidents  occur  over 
fallen  or  low  fences.  Be  sure  that  your 
horse  sees  these  and  realizes  the  necessity 
of  jumping  them  instead  of  attempting 

Picket  to  step  through  them. 

ences  Picket  fences  are  dangerous  because  the 

light  on  them  is  often  tricky  and  their  top 
line  being  irregular,  your  horse  cannot 
easily  fix  his  attention  on  it. 

Stone  walls  are  not  as  difficult  as  they 
look.  They  are  seldom  as  high  as  wooden 
fences.  Being  solid,  they  are  easily  seen, 
and  your  horse  can  have  no  illusions  as  to 
breaking  through.    If  he  has  once  rapped 

Stone  Walls  one,  he  seldom  does  it  again.    The  danger 

of  stone  walls  does  not  lie  in  their  height 

or  solidit}^  but  in  the  fact  that  you  are 

unable  to  see  what  is  on  the  further  side. 

No  special  care  is  needed  in  jmnping 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  11 

hedges  beyond  making  sure  that  they  are 

not  wired  and  endeavoring  to  secure  a  safe  Hedges 

landing.    Hedge  jumping,  however,  tends 

to  make  horses  careless  because  they  soon 

learn  that  they  can  brush  through  with 

impunity.    In  England  hedges  must  often 

be  "flown"  because  flanked  by  ditches  or 

ox-rails,  but  this  is  seldom  the  case  in  this 

country. 

Watch  out  at  all  times  for  wire.  Some 
farmers  run  a  single  strand  along  the  Wire 
top  of  their  fences.  Such  a  wire  often 
escapes  notice.  If  it  is  below  the  top  rail 
it  can  usually  be  disregarded  if  you  are 
on  a  safe  hunter.  In  rare  cases  where 
it  becomes  absolutely  necessary  to  jump 
wire,  dismount  and  cover  the  top  strands 
with  your  coat  or  some  other  solid  article 
and  jump  at  this  point,  after  having  care- 
fully shown  it  to  your  horse.  In  Australia 
where  most  of  the  fences  are  of  wire,  horses 
are  taught  to  jump  the  posts,  but  with  us 
few  animals  are  sufficiently  well  trained 
for  this.  If  caught  in  wire,  dismount  at 
once  and  quiet  your  horse,  holding  down 


Water 


12  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

the  loose  strands  with  your  feet,  while 
your  horse  steps  out  of  them. 

In  approaching  a  water  jump,  the  im- 
portant thing  is  to  choose  firm  ground  on 
which  to  "take  off"  and  land.  Unlike  a 
high  jump,  it  should  be  taken  at  full  or, 
nearly  full  speed,  in  order  to  carry  you 
across.  I  think  it  is  Whyte  Melville  who 
pointed  out  that  if  the  hounds  try  to  take 
a  stream  in  their  stride,  whether  they  fail 
or  not,  you  are  safe  in  attempting  to  jump 
it,  but  if  the  hounds  stop  at  the  brink,  and 
wade  in,  you  want  to  look  out.  On  enter- 
ing a  river  give  your  horse  plenty  of  rein; 
to  pull  in  his  head  may  cause  him  to  roll 
over,  as  his  footing  is  necessarily  precari- 
ous, when  his  body  is  supported  by  the 
water.  If  forced  to  swim  leave  his  head 
entirely  alone. 

In  negotiating  steep  banks  and  hillsides. 
Banks  always  point  your  horse  straight  down  the 

incline.  This  is  partly  for  the  same  rea- 
son that  you  cross  a  fence  at  a  right  angle, 
and  also  because  in  going  down  hill,  a 
horse  can  slide  on  his  haunches,  bringing 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  13 

his  hind  feet  far  in  advance.  It  is  sur- 
prising how  steep  a  bank  a  horse  can 
descend  in  this  manner.  I  have  seen  Ital- 
ian Army  officers  take  almost  perpendicu- 
lar banks.  In  jumping  "on  and  off"  give 
your  horse  time  to  change  its  feet  while 
on  the  bank.  Irish  hunters  do  this  natu- 
rally, but  others  have  to  learn  it  by  ex- 
perience. 

If  bogged  dismount  at  once  to  lighten 
your  horse,  throw  the  reins  over  his  head  ^®^* 
and  standing  in  front  of  him  but  a  little 
to  one  side  encourage  him  by  voice,  and 
rein  to  extricate  himself. 

When  riding  through  woods,  accustom 
your  horse  to  seek  naturally  the  open 
spaces  and  to  be  guided  by  the  manner  Woods 
in  which  you  throw  your  weight.  There 
is  no  time  to  guide  him  by  pulling  his  head 
first  one  way  and  then  the  other.  Inci- 
dentally, nothing  tends  to  make  a  horse 
more  handy  and  tractable,  than  schooling 
him  among  trees.  In  passing  under  low 
branches  lean  well  forward,  bringing  your 
head  beside  your  horse's  neck.    Never  lean 


14  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

back  because  by  so  doing  you  lose  sight 
of  where  you  are  going  and  you  are  liable 
to  be  struck  in  the  face  when  straightening 
again  in  the  saddle.  Also,  you  can  lean 
much  lower  forward  than  backward  and 
can  retain  better  control  over  your  horse. 
Do  not  think  that  you  can  easily  ward  off 
dead  branches.  Do  not  catch  branches  in 
your  hand  and  let  them  spring  back  in  the 
face  of  the  next  rider.  In  passing  through 
narrow  places  move  your  legs  well  for- 
ward of  the  saddle. 

If  your  horse  gets  in  difficulty  on  land- 
ing after  his  jump  or  at  other  times,  do 
not  hurry  him  or  try  to  "hold  him  up"  by 
pulling  on  the  reins,  as  some  recommend. 
Not  only  is  this  as  foolish  as  trying  to  lift 
yourself  by  your  own  boot  straps,  but  in- 
asmuch as  a  horse  never  puts  his  forefeet 
in  front  of  his  nose,  by  pulling  in  his  head 
you  restrict  the  action  of  his  front  feet  as 
he  endeavors  to  get  out  of  trouble.  On 
the  contrary,  leave  the  reins  entirely  loose, 
leaning  well  back  in  the  saddle  so  as  to 
lighten  his  load  in  front. 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  15 

In  case  of  a  fall,  be  sure  to  hang  on  to 
your  reins,  not  merely  to  keep  your  horse 
from  running  away  and  leaving  you  in  Falls 
the  lurch,  but  to  prevent  your  animal  from 
kicking  or  rolling  on  you,  for  a  horse  is 
comparatively  helpless  when  his  head  is 
under  control. 

If  you  are  thrown  free  of  your  horse, 
draw  in  your  arms  and  legs,  curve  your 
back  and  tighten  your  muscles.  Make 
yourself  as  much  like  a  rubber  ball  as 
possible.  The  art  of  falling  has  almost 
as  much  place  on  the  hunting  field  as  in 
football.  A  stiff  hat — derby  or  silk — is  a 
great  protection  to  the  head. 

Besides  studying  the  country  in  front 
of  you,  pay  particular  attention  to  the 
character  of  the  ground  over  which  you 
are  passing.  Remember  that  there  is  a 
right  and  a  wrong  way  of  traveling  over 
every  foot  of  ground,  and  that  it  is  not 
only  when  jumping  that  good  horseman-  . 
ship  is  required.  Ease  your  horse  where  YourMount 
the  going  is  heavy  and  speed  up  on  solid 
and  smooth  ground.     At    every    oppor- 


16  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

tunity,  bring  your  horse  to  a  trot.  It  rests 
him,  not  only  because  it  is  his  natural  gait, 
but  because  his  weight  and  yours  is  then 
more  evenly  distributed  on  his  feet.  If 
you  come  to  a  plowed  field  keep  along  one 
of  the  fence  lines,  or  if  it  becomes  neces- 
sary to  cross  the  furrows,  ride  with  them, 
if  possible,  rather  than  diagonally  over 
them,  going  a  little  out  of  your  way  to  do 
this,  if  necessary.  Watch  out  for  holes 
made  by  hedgehogs,  rabbits  and  other 
animals,  and  for  soft  or  rough  spots. 
These  can  nearly  always  be  distinguished 
by  the  appearance  of  the  ground.  Loose 
dirt  always  indicates  danger,  and  a  rank 
growth  of  vegetation,  or  change  in  the 
color  of  grass  suggests  bogs  and  other  pit- 
falls. In  passing  over  a  newly  cut  corn 
field  or  burnt  ground,  be  very  careful  of 
your  going.  Many  a  horse  has  been  lamed 
by  a  sharp  corn  stalk  or  the  charred  stump 
of  a  sapling. 

Many  accidents  occur  through  turning 
a  horse  suddenly  at  a  side  fence  while 
galloping  along  the  road.  In  such  cases 
your  horse's  mind  and  attention  are  fixed 


Jumping 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  17 

on  the  road  before  him  and  he  has  but  a 
short  time  and  distance  in  which  to  pre- 
pare himself  for  the  jmnp.  The  safe  plan 
is  to  pull  up,  turn  completely  around  in  ^  ^_"5^^* 
a  direction  away  from  the  jump  and  then 
put  him  at  it  slowly,  starting  from  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road. 

While  waiting  at  a  check,  do  not  allow 
your  horse  to  become  chilled  in  a  cold 
wind.  If  you  dismount  and  lead  him 
about,  it  will  rest  you  both. 

Never  take  a  jump  for  the  sake  of 
"showing  off"  or  through  jealousy.  Re- 
member that  hunting  does  not  exist  for  the 
sake  of  jumping,  but  jumping  is  rather 
an  unavoidable  incident  to  hunting.  Do 
not  attempt  an  impossible  obstacle,  but  on 
the  other  hand  do  not  shirk  a  difficult  or 
even  dangerous  jump  if  it  comes  in  your 
way,  and  you  cannot  avoid  it  without  in- 
terference with  others,  or  loss  of  your  own 
line.  Under  these  circumstances,  never 
pull  back  in  order  that  someone  else  may 
take  the  risk  for  you. 

When  changing  direction  at  a  canter 
or  gallop  make  sure  than  your  horse  is 


Refusing 


18  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

leading  with  the  foreleg  towards  which 
you  are  turning, — otherwise  he  may  cross 
his  feet  and  give  you  a  dangerous  fall. 

If  your  horse  "refuses",  your  first 
thought  should  be  to  keep  out  of  the  way 
of  more  fortunate  riders.  Do  not  ride 
down  the  fence  line  cutting  across  the 
paths  of  other  huntsmen.  Remember  that 
you  have  no  right  to  try  the  same  panel 
again  until  everyone  else  wishing  to  take 
it  has  had  a  chance.  Before  putting  your 
horse  again  at  the  jump,  make  up  your 
mind  as  to  why  he  refused  it  the  first  time. 
Perhaps  he  misjudged  his  distance  or 
stepped  on  a  stone  as  he  neared  the  fence, 
or  possibly  he  felt  the  twinge  of  some  old 
injury  and  saved  you  a  fall  by  stopping 
as  he  did.  If  it  was  laziness,  a  few  good 
cuts  of  the  whip  should  wake  him  up,  but 
before  punishing  him  make  allowance  for 
nervousness  and  give  him  every  chance  to 
try  it  again  pleasantly.  But  whatever 
your  method,  never  allow  him  to  go  on 
without  jumping  that  fence.  If  necessary, 
meet  him  half  way  by  lowering  the  top 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  19 

bar,  but  on  no  account  let  him  think  that 
he  has  conquered  you.  Never  hit  a  "re- 
fuser" on  the  head  or  in  front  of  the 
saddle. 

A  good  hunter  should  follow  his  master 
willingly  when  led.  Nothing  is  more  ag- 
gravating than  to  be  on  one  side  of  an 
obstacle  while  your  horse  hangs  obsti- 
nately back  on  the  other. 

Avoid  galloping,  and,  if  possible,  trot- 
ting on  macadamized  roads.  You  can 
usually  find  soft  going  on  one  side  or  the 
other  of  the  hardest  highway.  Remember 
the  old  saying: 

"  'Tis  not  the  'untin'  and  the  jumpin' 
What  'urts  your  'orse's  'oofs, 
But  the  'ammer,  'ammer,  'ammer 
On  the  'ard  'ighway." 

Do  not  treat  your  mount  as  if  he  were  "Sympa- 
a  machine.    Hunters  steadily  improve  or  thetic" 
deteriorate  with  use,  and  in  the  long  run  Riding 
are  pretty  much  what  their  riders  make 
them.   Kind  and  intelligent  treatment  will 
be  amply  repaid.     No  one  can  become 


W  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

really  expert  in  the  field  who  is  not  a 
sympathetic  rider,  maintaining  a  constant 
understanding  with  his  mount.  A  horse 
is  extraordinarily  sensitive  to  his  rider's 
mental  condition  and  reacts  at  once  to  any 
vacillation,  anger  or  fear  on  the  latter's 
part. 

As  these  suggestions  are  not  intended 

Good  *^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^*  ^^  riding,  except  while 

Hands  hunting,   little  has  been  said  about  the 

all  important  question  of  "good  hands". 
Whether  they  are  a  natural  gift  or  can 
be  cultivated,  has  always  been  a  subject 
of  controversy  among  huntsmen,  but  it  is 
well  to  remember  that  the  essence  of  "good 
hands"  is  to  ride  as  if  you  were  pulling 
on  a  thread  which  you  were  afraid  of 
breaking,  to  keep  a  constant  feel  on  your 
horse's  mouth,  and  never  allow  him  to  test 
his  strength  against  yours  in  a  dead  pull. 
There  is  no  truer  saying  than  the  old  one 
that  "if  you  pull  a  post,  it  will  pull  you". 
Riding  with  long  reins  is  one  of  the 
essentials  of  "good  hands",  and  is  a  par- 
ticularly valuable  habit  on  the  hunting 
field.    Melville  says  on  this  point: 


RIDIN  GTO  HOUNDS  SI 

"A  man  with  long  reins  not  only  affords 
his  horse  greater  liberty  at  his  fences,  but 
allows  him  every  chance  of  recovering 
should  he  get  into  difficulties  on  landing, 
the  rider  not  being  pulled  with  a  jerk  on 
the  animal's  neck  and  shoulders,  so  as  to 
throw  both  of  them  down  when  they  ought 
to  have  gotten  off  with  a  scramble." 

Be  punctual  at  meets.    Nothing  is  more 
exasperating  to  the  Master  than  to  keep  Manners 
hounds  and  horses  standing  in  the  cold 
while  stragglers  arrive. 

The  quiet  rider  is  nearly  always  the 
best.  The  essence  of  good  sportsmanship 
in  this,  as  in  other  games,  is  a  knowledge 
of  your  business  and  consideration  for  the 
rights  of  others.  Do  not  crowd,  and  never 
cross  another  person's  line.  To  pass  be- 
tween a  rider  and  the  panel  he  is  approach- 
ing is  the  unpardonable  sin,  and  is  very 
dangerous  for  yourself  and  others.  When 
jumping  in  single  file,  never  allow  your 
own  horse  to  "take  off"  until  the  horse 
ahead  of  you  has  recovered  after  landing, 
and  regained  Ms  regular  stride. 

In  passing  through  a  self-closing  gate, 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 


Rights  of 
Land- 
owners 


hold  it  open  until  the  next  rider  cares  for 
it.  If  you  are  the  last  one  through  a  gate, 
it  is  your  business  to  shut  it,  otherwise  you 
may  be  responsible  for  the  loss  of  live- 
stock at  pasture. 

When  you  come  upon  a  hole  or  wire, 
give  warning  to  those  following  you  by 
raising  your  hand  and  crying  "  'ware 
wire",  or  "  'ware  hole". 

Never  crowd  the  hounds.  Even  if  you 
do  not  ride  them  down  by  so  doing,  you 
make  them  nervous  and  interfere  with 
their  work.  A  woman  once  boasted  to  me 
that  she  had  finished  "far  ahead  of  the 
hounds"!  Be  friendly  and  democratic  on 
the  field,  ever  ready  to  do  a  kindness  to 
a  fellow  sportsman. 

At  all  times  be  careful  of  the  land  over 
which  you  are  riding.  Remember  there 
is  no  reason  why  a  farmer  should  be  par- 
ticularly enthusiastic  about  your  sport  at 
his  expense,  and  in  the  long  run  the  suc- 
cess of  any  hunt  depends  upon  the  good 
will  of  the  land  owners.  It  is  true  that 
the  actual  damage  done  to  land  by  hunting 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  23 

over  it  under  proper  conditions  is  infini- 
tesimal, and  objections  of  farmers  are 
for  the  most  part  purely  sentimental.  But 
on  the  other  hand,  even  the  sentiments  of 
land  owners  are  entitled  to  respect  by- 
trespassers!  To  cut  up  a  sightly  meadow 
while  it  is  soft,  or  to  trample  new  sown 
wheat  is  not  only  an  injury  to  a  farmer's 
feelings,  but  a  financial  loss  as  well,  while 
the  damage  caused  by  the  breaking  of 
fences  is  a  very  serious  one,  as  you  would 
realize  if  you  had  to  rebuild  them  yourself. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  pretend  to  yourself 
the  land  you  are  riding  over  is  yours,  and 
to  treat  it  accordingly.  If  you  have  oc- 
casion to  negotiate  with  a  farmer,  deal 
with  him  yourself  and  never  through  a 
servant. 

Be  considerate  of  the  Master.  Remem- 
ber he  has  many  responsibilities  and  is  try-  xh  M  t 
ing  his  best  to  provide  you  with  good 
sport.  Don't  bother  him  with  silly  ques- 
tions or  give  him  advice  unasked.  Keep 
behind  him  at  all  times  in  the  field,  and 
give  him  precedence  over  a  jump. 


24  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

j^  The  test  for  appointments  in  the  field 

is  one  of  utility  and  good  taste.  Loose 
ends  of  all  kinds  should  be  avoided,  and 
the  outfit  should  be  compact  and  business- 
like. Flowers,  ribbons,  etc.,  are  out  of 
place.  Carry  in  your  pocket  a  pen  knife 
and  bit  of  string  to  mend  a  broken  bridle 
or  stirrup  leather.  Pink  coats  have  both 
a  sentimental  and  practical  value,  as  they 
not  only  add  cheer  to  the  landscape  but 
can  be  distinguished  at  a  distance,  and  are 
easier  to  locate  than  black  or  grey.  If  pink 
is  worn,  it  should  always  be  accompanied 
by  a  silk  hat  and  black  boots  with  light  col- 
ored tops.  Gloves  should  be  substantial, 
very  loose  and  turned  back,  unbuttoned 
over  the  wrist,  to  permit  the  easy  flexing 
of  the  latter.  Unless  your  horse  is  lazy, 
a  crop  is  better  than  a  whip,  as  it  can  be 
used  to  open  gates,  let  down  bars  or  pick 
up  a  lost  hat.  Spurs  are  recognized  as 
part  of  full  dress  equipment,  but  I  have 
a  strong  prejudice  against  them,  based  on 

bpurs  observation  and  experience.     Few  riders 

are  sufficiently  expert  to  avoid  using  them 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS  25 

unintentionally  at  times,  and  their  effect 
upon  a  horse,  unlike  that  of  a  whip,  is  to 
make  him  flinch  and  contract  his  muscles. 
To  spur  a  horse  when  approaching  a  fence 
is  to  do  all  you  can  to  sour  him,  and  I 
have  seen  several  good  horses  so  ruined  for 
life  in  a  single  ride.  The  dread  of  being 
pricked  as  they  approach  their  jump 
makes  them  nervous  and  they  soon  take 
an  inveterate  dislike  to  fences,  which  they 
associate  with  their  own  hurt. 

In  case  of  a  fall  the  danger  of  being 
dragged  is  much  greater  with  spurs  on 
than  without.  So  famous  a  rider  as  Mel- 
ville says  in  his  "Reminiscences"  that  he 
could  not  recall  a  single  instance  where 
a  boot  without  spurs  had  failed  to  come 
clear  of  the  stirrup,  and  adds  "I  firmly 
believe  that  nine  out  of  every  ten  men  who 
come  out  hunting  would  be  better  and 
more  safely  carried  if  they  left  their  spurs 
at  home." 

Sore  backs  spoil  the  usefulness  of  many 
good  hunters.  There  is  no  sure  preventive 
against  galling,  but  many  sore  backs  are 


26  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

caused  by  a  misfitting  saddle  or  the  un- 
even seat  of  the  rider.  Sit  well  down  in 
your  saddle  so  as  to  balance  your  weight 
over  the  center  of  gravity.  Side  saddles 
are  peculiarly  apt  to  cause  sore  backs,  par- 
ticularly when  the  rider  rises  with  a  churn- 
ing motion.  To  avoid  this  she  should  rise 
as  the  horse  brings  forward  his  off  fore- 
foot. 

The  comparative  merits  of  a  side  or 
Side  or  cross  seat  for  women  in  the  hunting  field 

is  a  perennial  subject  of  controversy.  The 
fact  is  that  each  has  peculiar  advan- 
tages. The  side  saddle  gives  a  much 
firmer  seat,  and  while  a  horse  keeps  his 
feet,  is  therefore  the  safer;  also  most 
women  look  better  on  side  saddles.  Al- 
though some  women  ride  astride  grace- 
fully, I  have  never  yet  seen  a  woman  with 
a  really  first  class  seat  on  a  man's  saddle, 
and  most  women  are  so  shaped  that  when 
riding  astride  they  exemplify  the  ugly 
"tailor's"  seat.  On  the  other  hand,  a  cross 
saddle  is  lighter  and  easier  on  one's  horse 
and    is    far    safer    if    the    latter    comes 


Cross 
Saddle  for 
Women 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

down,  both  because  the  rider  more  easily 
falls  clear  of  her  mount,  and  also  because 
she  is  in  no  danger  of  being  crushed  by  a 
sharp  pummel.  The  modern  apron  skirt 
and  safety  stirrup  strap  have  practically 
ehminated  the  danger  of  being  "dragged". 

Some  horses  look  smart  with  hogged 
manes,  but  many  a  good  rider  has  been 
saved  a  fall  or  has  kept  his  saddle  in  place 
during  a  steep  climb  by  a  friendly  grip  on 
his  horse's  mane. 

The  proper  place  for  grooms  is  in  the 
rear  of  the  field  and  not  beside  or  imme- 
diately behind  you.  They  should  not  take 
a  jump  until  every  sportsman  has  passed 
it.  Nor  have  you  the  right  to  let  them 
school  your  unruly  horses  to  the  discom- 
fort of  the  rest  of  the  field. 

A  word  as  to  "post  mortem"  hunting. 
Nothing  is  more  enjoyable  than  to  discuss 
with  other  sportsmen  around  a  cheerful  «Post 
fire,  the  incidents  of  a  fine  run.    Remem-  Mortem" 
ber,  however,  that  the  whole  interest  of  Hunting 
the  run  did  not  center  in  your  own  achieve- 
ments, and  that  others— particularly  those 


Grooms 


28  RIDING  TO  HOUNDS 

who  did  not  follow — are  not  carried  away 
with  enthusiasm  at  learning  the  exact 
height  of  that  monstrous  fence  which  you 
took  so  cleverly,  or  eager  as  to  the  details 
of  how  you  outdistanced  other  riders! 
No  sport  shows  up  the  character  of  those 
engaged  in  it  better  than  hunting,  whether 
evidenced  by  their  conduct  in  the  field,  or 
by  their  af tertalk. 


